S6E3: Ivan Pecel — Comedy Juggling
These are show notes taken from an audio interview.
To listen to the actual interview, please use the player above.
Ivan Pecel talks about his career as a professional juggler, targeting specific markets, and his take on comedy.
Ivan is quite an accomplished comedy juggler based out of Los Angeles, CA. As funny as a stand up comic, and as skilled as a chinese acrobat, he’s appeared on MTV, America’s Got Talent, and the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
He’s become a favorite performer for a wide variety of venues like corporations, colleges, trade shows, comedy clubs, cruise ships, and casinos. An interesting fact about Ivan is that in the twelve years he’s been performing professionally, he’s never had a slow time in his business! We’ll delve into that topic for sure!
Sponsors:
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Success Quote
Talent is overrated. — Geoff Colvin
Having a Great Video
• Invest in a good camera.
• If you don’t have video editing capabilities, hire a good pro.
• Targeting your video to the market you want to work in.
• Make sure the exposure is correctly adjusted so you;re not washed out.
• The better the video quality, the better the video.
Comedy is King
• Knowing your audience and telling appropriate jokes that relate to them.
• Getting the comedy out of audience interactions.
• How “far he goes” in his antics.
• Acknowledge the heckler once, then twice, then ignore him.
• Hecklers: watch this video of how Ivan almost completely lost control of his show as the drunkest woman in the world heckles him.
Failure Moment
Tells how he cancelled one gig in favor of a better gig which fell through because he didn’t get a contract.
Favorite Success
1. Doing a show in Vegas called Jubilee.
2. Being on Jay Leno’s show.
Biggest Professional Challenge
Crushing the stigma of being a juggler.
Interesting Story From the Road
Juggling at a restaurant and having a kid up on stage with him pee on his leg.
Other Topics Covered
• There’s more to show biz than just having a good show.
• Meeting with agents and event planners.
• His desire to work on cruise ships and what he did to get there.
• Never put all you eggs in one basket.
• His email list and how he interacts with it.
• Content for his monthly email newsletter.
Parting Advice
Just do it! Show biz is not a part time job.
Recommended books and resources:
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you’re enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we’re doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resource:
Books:
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin
